Unseen Heroes Emerge: Roll Tide Wire’s Shocking Players of the Week After Win vs. Vanderbilt

Alabama’s latest showdown on Saturday against Vanderbilt wasn’t just a win—it was a statement. They powered through to notch a 4-1 record overall and keep a clean slate at 2-0 in SEC play, proving their dominance early in the season’s grind. What really stood out? The Alabama defense clamped down hard, restricting Vanderbilt’s fiery offense to just 334 yards and holding them to two touchdowns—talk about clutch. As the season marches on, these moments are crucial for Alabama’s momentum. This week’s Roll Tide Wire players of the week spotlight both fresh faces and seasoned stalwarts who played pivotal roles, with defense shining bright enough to name two defenders for top honors. The Tide is not just playing—they’re sending a loud message as they carve their path deeper into SEC competition. LEARN MORE

Alabama had another big win Saturday against Vanderbilt, taking their record to 4-1 overall, 2-0 in the SEC.

The Alabama defense held the red hot Vanderbilt offense to 334 yards of total offense and two touchdowns. This is a big win for Alabama as they continue their trek into SEC play.

Below is a list of the Roll Tide Wire’s players of the week. Many players made contributions, but this week, I acknowledged both newcomers and familiar faces. The defensive performances were great against the pass and run, so this week there were two defensive players of the week.

Alabama is off to a great start as they work their way into SEC play.

Offense: Jam Miller, Running Back

Jam looked fantastic Saturday. He looked extremely agile, and was cutting, ripping off 5-6 yards a carry. He is absolutely the missing piece of the Alabama offense. There was a big difference in how he performed against Georgia vs. how he performed against Vanderbilt. Jam finished the day with 136 yards on 22 carries with 5.6 YPC and one touchdown.

Jam gives the Alabama offense a between the tackles running game. He takes pressure off Ty Simpson, and he opens things up for Kevin Riley. If Jam can stay healthy he can very much be a focal point for the Alabama offense, and allow offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb to be that much more creative.

Defense: Keon Sabb, Safety

On the day, Keon had one solo tackle, one pass deflection, and one interception. These are not huge stats, but Keon made a play when it counted most. In the fourth quarter with Vanderbilt driving, Keon intercepted a pass in the red zone to preserve a 20-14 lead. This was the last threat of Vanderbilt scoring, and Alabama put up 10 more points to seal the victory.

Keon may have not had a huge statistical day, but his presence was felt all day. His length and speed to the football are noticeable. His wingspan and ability to bat down balls makes him a great hybrid asset in Kane Wommack’s 4-2-5 swarm defense. Keon disrupted the Vanderbilt offensive attack and made key plays when they mattered most.

Defense: Justin Jefferson, Linebacker

This week Roll Tide Wire will have two defensive players of the week, as they were both standout performers. Linebacker Justin Jefferson had a great game as well with 14 tackles, nine solo, one sack, and one TFL. These were game changing plays and Jefferson was all over the field.

Vanderbilt had a great running game and Jefferson did a fantastic job of tackling the ball carrier. Alabama held Vandy to 136 yards on the ground and Jefferson was a big reason why. Nine solo tackles is a critical statistic and shows his ability to tackle in space.

Special Teams: Lotzeir Brooks, Kick Returner

Lotzeir Brooks made three lengthy kickoff returns to give Alabama solid field position. On the day, Lotzeir had 3 kick returns for 64 yards, and a long of 25. Lotzeir shows good straight line speed and elusiveness on kickoffs. Lotzeir also had one reception for 30 yards at wide receiver. On the season, he has added nine receptions for 158 yards in five games.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.